This blog is a humble contribution towards increasing awareness about problems being faced wrt Tiger Conservation in India. With the Tiger fast disappearing from the radar and most of us looking the other way the day is not far when the eco system that supports and nourishes us collapses. Citizen voice is an important tool that can prevent the disaster from happening and this is an attempt at channelising the voice of concerned nature lovers.

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Monday, April 29, 2013

P Naveen, TNN | Apr 29, 2013, 02.45 PM IST
Unmanned aerial vehicle base to be shifted to closer to Red corridor ...Tahsildar, 4 others hurt in tiger attackDid forest officials’ folly lead to Kerala tiger attack?Rhino calf killed by tigerMHA convenes meeting of Naxal-affected states
BHOPAL: A tiger, which was locked into a room by a tribal woman after it strayed into her house in Balaghat district in Madhya Pradesh on Friday morning was released near Loujhar ghati area — south Balaghat region, to save it from poachers.
Hunters wont lay traps in this area, forest officials believe. Loujhar Ghati area, which falls under the jurisdiction of Roopjhar police station area is frequented by Maoists of Malajkhand Dalam, sources said.
However, forest officials were attacked by angry villagers who wanted the tiger to be released in a distant area. Three persons, including retired ranger Niranjan Kumar Bisen, who volunteered help to the department in capturing the tiger, were injured after villagers resorted to stone-pelting. Police had to use mild lathicharge to disperse the mob.
"They objected to the release of the tiger in forest area close to their village. I sustained injuries on my arms and two labourers sustained fatal wounds on their head," Bisen said. This was 53rd tiger he had captured. "At least poachers won't enter the area fearing Naxals," he said.
The tiger had strayed into Nevargaon village close to the Pench-Kanha corridor in search of water, said forest officials. It entered into the house of Ishwar Nageshwar. When the tiger moved into a room, Ishwar's cousin Sangeeta Primal locked it from outside and ran out of her house with her three-year-old kid. Other members also woke up. The forest department was told about it. The tiger was into the room from 6 am to 5.30 pm till vets from the reserve tranquilized.
Wildlife experts believe the tiger travelled several kilometres through the Red Corridor either for space and or prey-base shortage from the Nagzira sanctuary in Gondia (Maharashtra).
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Tiger-freed-at-Red-zone-in-MP-villagers-attack-officials/articleshow/19780354.cms

Many parts of Similipal Tiger Reserve declared inviolate
By Siba Mohanty - BHUBANESWAR 29th April 2013 09:01 AM
Photos
About 800 sq km to 1200 sq km of inviolate area is required for the survival and sustenance of nearly 20 breeding tigers, which will in turn can sustain 50 to 60 tigers in all on a sustainable basis.
In a bid to provide the national animal and its cubs a safer and quieter habitat, the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) management has declared several parts of the core area to be inviolate.
Encouraged by sighting the big cats and their newborn cubs, the Upper Barahkamuda and Jenabil ranges have been declared no-go areas. Collection of minor forest produce and research activity has been prohibited. The STR has also banned vehicular movements after dusk, except on protection work. During the daytime, officials accompanied by STR staff can patrol the areas only in the vehicles belonging to the STR, Health, Police, Revenue Departments.
Considering that tigers are overly-protective of their cubs and thus prefer isolated areas that are free from any external interference, the park management is maintaining a strong vigil and surveillance on the settlements in and around core areas of the big cat’s habitat. There are 68 villages within the STR which include three villages and two settlements in the core/critical area.
As per the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines, about 800 sq km to 1200 sq km of inviolate area is required for the survival and sustenance of nearly 20 breeding tigers, which will in turn can sustain 50 to 60 tigers in all on a sustainable basis.
“Studies have shown that tigers have left the areas where new roads are created. Tigers also leave places with human presence. They need absolute inviolate area for breeding and growth. Visitors of tiger dens can create disastrous consequences for animals. The loss to species and their habitats after the 2009 Naxal attack was incalculable which has put them under stress. So, the need of the hour is to provide them the much-needed space,” said STR Field Director Anup Nayak.
http://newindianexpress.com/nation/Many-parts-of-Similipal-Tiger-Reserve-declared-inviolate/2013/04/29/article1566146.ece

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Anindo Dey & P Naveen, TNN | Apr 25, 2013, 05.57 AM IST
The search for a home led a young male tiger from Ranthambore to travel through villages and agricultural fields, cross the Chambal river and 'settle' 220km away in a patch of forest in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh.
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JAIPUR/GWALIOR: The search for a home led a young male tiger from Ranthambore to travel through villages and agricultural fields, cross the Chambal river and 'settle' 220km away in a patch of forest in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh.
This is the farthest any big cat from the national park is recorded to have travelled. The journey has been documented by Ranthambhore's deputy conservator of forest YK Sahu, field biologist Dharmendra Khandal (of tiger watch), and Ayan Sadhu, a junior research fellow at Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.
On March 14, the three-year-old tiger was found in Seoda range of Datia territorial forest division, a forest patch 55km in length and 11-12km wide. Identified as a male cub of tigress T-26, the tiger was one of three that went missing from Ranthambore. The other two were traced to Kuno wildlife sanctuary, which is preparing to host lions from Gir in Gujarat.
A team from Ranthambore visited Datia district last week. It installed camera traps to check the tiger's movements. The big cat finally showed up in camera trap pictures.
"Our team followed the tiger all the way to MP. We are happy that it's safe there and the officers were very cooperative. We cannot stop dispersal, only concern is its safety," said Y K Sahu, district forest officer Ranthambore.
The longest recorded distance travelled by a tiger is 280km (as the crow flies), when another young male wandered from Bandipur to Shikaripur in Karnataka in 2011.
According to a report by Sahu and others, "By the end of January 2013, the sub-adult cubs of tigress T-26, about two years old, began to disperse from their mother. On January 23 and 24 night, villagers of Khandar and Ganeshnagar reported movement of tigers," the report said.
By January 25, pugmarks were again seen along Banas river going towards Bichpuri. The marks led up to Bheonji, near Bichpuri village, 12km from Dhamida ghata and then 4km away near Gopaz Ghati leading to the neighbouring Kailadevi Sanctuary.
After that, the tiger crossed Chambal river and entered the forests of Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh. It was tracked by forest officials of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Between January 28 and February 9, the tiger had travelled 70 km from its natal place in Ranthambore. A cow was found mauled to death near Birpur territorial range in MP, confirming the predator's presence.
The animal went unnoticed for a long time. But in the first week of March 2013, the forest division of Datia in Madhya Pradesh reported movement of a tiger in Seoda range.
"Since there was no reported tiger presence in this area, a team was sent from Ranthambore to assist the Datia forest staff. On March 27, the killing of a wild boar alerted local staffers who installed cameras and managed to get pictures which matched with those of T26's male cub," the report notes.
"We concluded that the tiger roaming in the Seoda range is one of the male sub-adults from the present litter of T26," says Dharmendra Khandal.
There were no tiger sightings in Datia till one was shot dead by poachers in 1998. Prior to that one was hunted 'legally' by a royal family member in 1960, said sources.
"We are very concerned about the tiger's safety. Additional patrolling is being done to keep tab on its movements," said chief conservator of forest (Gwalior circle) SP Rayal.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Ranthambore-tiger-strides-220km-to-MP/articleshow/19719121.cms

Friday, April 19, 2013

DS Kunwar, TNN | Apr 19, 2013, 04.49 AM IST
READ MORE Ramnagar Forest Division|National Tiger Conservation Authority|Corbett Tiger Reserve|Uttarakhand
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DEHRADUN: A mutilated body of a 6-year-old tiger was found in Ramnagar forest division under Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) in Nainital district on Thursday.
Kumaon forest conservator, Sameer Sinha, said the carcass was spotted during a routine visit by officials to Ramnagar forest division to roughly tally the number of tigers and other endangered species and their overall condition in the region.
Sinha said as the team discovered a tiger's body with its amputated leg. A forest official part of team said that the tiger's carcass also bore injuries caused by sharp-edged weapons. He said the tiger had apparently crossed into Ramnagar forest division in search of prey.
The official said the exact cause of death will be known after post-mortem examination report but the condition of carcass suggested it might have the work of poachers.
A senior IFS officer said the condition of carcass indicated that the animal was killed mostly probably late Wednesday. The body was taken to Corbett Veterinary centre for post-mortem.
This is the second suspected case of tiger poaching in Ramnagar forest division within one month. A tiger was found dead there in the second week of March. About seven tigers were found dead under mysterious circumstances under CTR and Ramnagar forest division during the last five months.
Decks were cleared for Special Tiger Protection Force in Corbett
Decks have been cleared for forming a Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) in Corbett National Park after senior officials in National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Uttarakhand Forest department and Corbett National Park (CNP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Ramnagar in Nainital district.
CNP director Ranjan Mishra said that STPF' will considerably help ensure the security of tigers and other endangered species in Corbett. The decision to form this force was taken to prevent spurt in tiger poaching in Corbett.
"Now there is no technical hitch in recruitment for force and we will begin recruitment", said Mishra. Principal chief conservator of forests R B S Rawat said the proposal had been pending with the Union ministry for forests and environment for sanction for a long time.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Tiger-was-found-dead-near-Corbett/articleshow/19625936.cms